tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6225656280646658842020-02-28T17:06:59.800-08:00Dainty VelvetDainty Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494471083616851863noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622565628064665884.post-34439816764599338992011-11-29T09:00:00.000-08:002011-11-29T09:00:11.085-08:00Good Morning World!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHliXoIMkso/TtUPiNfK2yI/AAAAAAAAABU/f4DT_s7-Ogk/s1600/381297_2428056454054_1030830261_32296323_115394740_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" dda="true" height="478" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PHliXoIMkso/TtUPiNfK2yI/AAAAAAAAABU/f4DT_s7-Ogk/s640/381297_2428056454054_1030830261_32296323_115394740_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>Dainty Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494471083616851863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622565628064665884.post-47231123314661067262011-02-22T01:48:00.000-08:002011-02-22T01:53:31.080-08:00On a Sushi Frenzy<div style="text-align: center;">I'm a really big fan of seafood and can probably live on it for the rest of my life avoiding red meat, pork, or poultry. Sushi restaurants are my favorite place to be and with that said, I've had the opportunity to try a lot of different places without putting a deep dent in my wallet. I enjoy the cuisine very well but I wouldn't say I'm any connoisseur, I still have a lot to learn about the subject.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">I spent this past weekend in Palmdale and if you know where that is, you'd know that it is literally in the middle of nowhere. I go there about every other weekend because my boyfriend lives there, but quite frankly, I hate it there. So then, I have made it an adventure to find <i>something fun</i> to do there and so far in the category of sushi restaurants, I have found something.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">For most sushi enthusiasts, we look forward to the special Sushi Rolls such as the California Roll, Philadelphia Roll, or Dynamite Roll, etc. Why do we do this? Because these rolls, or maki, were created to cater to Westerners in the first place. For example, avocados first started appearing when one of the first Japanese chefs in the United States, Ichiro Mashita,&nbsp;couldn't get enough toro supply for his makizushi. Avocados, having a cream, fatty consistency was a good substitute for toro and thus, the California Roll was born. Also, most Westerners are afraid to consume anything raw because we are used to having things be cooked and served hot and so, most well-known makizushi are actually more like to be cooked.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">But what I find the most delicious is the real sushi, nigirizushi, or hand-formed sushi. Nigiri consists of a small mound of rice, wasabi and whatever topping you desire (fish, tamago, crab, etc.). Or gunkanmaki, a type of nigirizushi, that is a small mound of rice with seaweed, or nori, wrapped around the perimeter with topping filled in the middle. Usually, they are served by 2 pieces, but that should be enough for you to have a taste and still have room for more.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">This past weekend, we went to Goldfish Japanese Restaurant (Palmdale, CA) and Harbour (Palmdale, CA) and our menu consisted of:</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7C2yvNrp_q4/TWOD-IayOsI/AAAAAAAAAA4/OVCZiu6Sn1Q/s1600/IMG_0813.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7C2yvNrp_q4/TWOD-IayOsI/AAAAAAAAAA4/OVCZiu6Sn1Q/s400/IMG_0813.JPG" width="295" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">Lollipop Roll, Spider Roll @ Goldfish<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eKcxmjZB-I/TWODrADMlNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/nSwLwtpmvCE/s1600/IMG_0807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="display: inline !important; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6eKcxmjZB-I/TWODrADMlNI/AAAAAAAAAA0/nSwLwtpmvCE/s400/IMG_0807.JPG" width="297" /></a></div>Ono Nigiri, Salmon Nigiri @ Goldfish</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwAcBB7OraI/TWOD_wqk3JI/AAAAAAAAAA8/c0KrPOoyV8w/s1600/IMG_0811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YwAcBB7OraI/TWOD_wqk3JI/AAAAAAAAAA8/c0KrPOoyV8w/s400/IMG_0811.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Sea Urchin, or Uni, @ Goldfish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opbMIOd908E/TWOEFjlcEqI/AAAAAAAAABI/GsEV5OSmvrc/s1600/IMG_0836.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-opbMIOd908E/TWOEFjlcEqI/AAAAAAAAABI/GsEV5OSmvrc/s320/IMG_0836.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Harbour Maki, Romeo Maki @ Harbour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzF6bQ1Blf4/TWOEEHGJ67I/AAAAAAAAABE/lpXwfI9lO9Q/s1600/IMG_0832.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EzF6bQ1Blf4/TWOEEHGJ67I/AAAAAAAAABE/lpXwfI9lO9Q/s400/IMG_0832.JPG" width="297" /></a>&nbsp;</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Salmon Nigiri, Yellowtail Nigiri, Ono Nigiri @ Harbour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghsYI2cciYQ/TWOEB3Y_uaI/AAAAAAAAABA/Sm1oDq-f8yI/s1600/IMG_0817.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ghsYI2cciYQ/TWOEB3Y_uaI/AAAAAAAAABA/Sm1oDq-f8yI/s400/IMG_0817.JPG" width="297" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Live Sweet Shrimp Nigiri @ Goldfish</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZM7w9Vk3Ms/TWOEHjbtMMI/AAAAAAAAABM/lOrQlPIy3sg/s1600/IMG_0844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kZM7w9Vk3Ms/TWOEHjbtMMI/AAAAAAAAABM/lOrQlPIy3sg/s400/IMG_0844.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Fried Sweet Shrimp Nigiri @ Harbour</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">♥ Annie</div>Dainty Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494471083616851863noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622565628064665884.post-71672756398049087542011-02-16T14:56:00.000-08:002011-02-16T14:56:37.982-08:00Andrei's for Valentine's Day :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nV10xdsDm7A/TVxS_SOQJ-I/AAAAAAAAAAs/VxAHJcHy_4A/s1600/169039_1681959602099_1030830261_31603687_7211977_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nV10xdsDm7A/TVxS_SOQJ-I/AAAAAAAAAAs/VxAHJcHy_4A/s320/169039_1681959602099_1030830261_31603687_7211977_n.jpg" width="238" /></a><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFqIEQlnVoM/TVxT54gjYQI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ErxajdCT8m8/s1600/181698_1681529991359_1030830261_31603084_7136144_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j6="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JFqIEQlnVoM/TVxT54gjYQI/AAAAAAAAAAw/ErxajdCT8m8/s320/181698_1681529991359_1030830261_31603084_7136144_n.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">This year was the first time I really celebrated Valentine's Day. Although I do agree that it is a corporate invention or "Hallmark Holiday" if you will, I loved every single moment that I spent with my lovely boyfriend. We spent the whole weekend together, since we usually don't spend the weekdays together. For the actual day, we went out to lunch at Native Foods Café, where they had a special Valentine's Day menu. I got the Tempeh Scallopine and he had the Rockin' Morrocan &amp; it was all&nbsp;delicious! I also got their chocolate cupcake, like I do everytime I go there. The frosting on the cupcake is really yummy. Afterwards, we went to Color Me Mine because I've been wanting to go there for awhile and he knows how much I love being artsy. He did a Mickey Mouse sculpture, while I did a Buddha&nbsp;jar thing :) For dinner, we went to Andrei's Conscious Cusine &amp; Cocktails. Not being 21, it wasn't really my crowd since most of the food revolves around wine pairings and cocktails. But the food was really good, although a bit pricey. Originally, we were going to to go Houston's, but the boyfriend forgot to make reservations in time! With that said, we settled for Andrei's, but it was still a really great night. I had the Lamb Tasting and he had King Crab Ravioli, with a small plate of Crispy Shrimp. For dessert, we had the Sorbet &amp; Ice Cream sampler, our favorite was the Peanut Butter Ice Cream &amp; Vanilla Bean! Overall, it was a good night and I enjoyed it very much. :) Oh yeah, the boyfriend got me&nbsp;a LUSH&nbsp;"Be Mine"&nbsp;giftset!!!! I'm really excited to use it. :)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Smell ya later,</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Annie</div>Dainty Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494471083616851863noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-622565628064665884.post-5782843267917499642011-02-12T10:25:00.001-08:002011-02-12T10:25:32.639-08:00Finally :)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VO8PGvS8E3s/TVbQlrd9UiI/AAAAAAAAAAk/sKLdtwV5EwU/s1600/1297528472869398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" h5="true" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VO8PGvS8E3s/TVbQlrd9UiI/AAAAAAAAAAk/sKLdtwV5EwU/s400/1297528472869398.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Dainty Velvethttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02494471083616851863noreply@blogger.com0